WEBVTT NEWSCENTER 5'S JULIE LONCICHSPOKE WITH ARI'S DAD TONIGHT.JULIE: ALL OF OUR HEARTS BEAT ONTHE INSIDE, BUT FOR PARENTS,THEY ALSO WALK OUTSIDE.>> WE WERE IN THE HOSPITAL FORTHE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THEFIRST YEAR OF HIS LIFE AND A LOTOF IT WAS REALLY TOUCH AND GOARI SCHULTZ WAS THE FIRST PERSONIN THE WORLD TO HAVE TWOSUCCESSFUL HEART SURGERIESBEFORE HE WAS BORN, BUT BY 4.5,HIS HEART HAD GIVEN UP.DIAGNOSED WITH CONGESTIVE HEARTFAILURE, HE WAITED ON ATRANSPLANT LIST FOR 211AGONIZING DAYS.HIS FATHER MIKE WILL NEVERFORGET MARCH 3RD.>> HIS DOCTOR CAME IN THE ROOMAND SAID, MIKE, AND I SAID,SHHH, HE'S SLEEPING, DON'T WAKEUP A SLEEPING FIVE-YEAR-OLD.SO WE WENT OUTSIDE AND HE SAID,I HAVE NEWS, AND I SAID,'WHAT'S UP?' AND HE SAID, 'IT'STIME.WE GOT THE CALL.ARI, NOW 5, DIDN'T QUITE KNOWWHAT TO MAKE OF THE NEWS.HIS HEART STARTED BEATING IN HISCHEST AT 11:32.BUT THERE WOULD BE SETBACKS.ARI'S BODY REJECTED HIS NEWHEART, AND HE WENT INTO CARDIACARREST.HE WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT FORNEARLY TWO WEEKS.>> YOU REMEMBER THE GAME PLINKOFROM PRICE IS RIGHT?YOU SORT OF DROPPED IT IN THEMIDDLE AND IT EITHER GOES LEFTOR IT GOES RIGHT OR IT GOES TOTHE MIDDLE.IT'S LIKE WE JUST DROPPED THECOIN IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'SEITHER GOING TO GO THIS WAY ORIT'S GOING TO GO THAT WAY.ARI IS ALIVE IS BECAUSE ANOTHERFAMILY MADE THE DECISION TODONATE.>> TO WHOEVER THEY ARE OUTTHERE, AND SOME DAY WE MIGHTMEET THEM.I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOUFROM THE BOTTOM OF ALL OF OURHEARTS.>> THE SCHULTZ'S WANTED TO DOMORE AND JUST YESTERDAY LAUNCHED100K LIVES, A CAMPAIGN TODESIGNED TO REGISTER NEW DONORS.MIKE WILL LIKELY TELL YOU HISPRIORITIES IN LIFE HAVECHANGED, THAT ALL THAT REALLYMATTERS ARE THE NEW FIRST STEPSHE HOPES HIS FIRST CHILD, HISWALKING HEART, WILL TAKE.>> EVERYTHING, I THINK, WILL BEFINE AS LONG AS ARI CAN WAKE UP,GO TO SCHOOL, COME HOME AND BUGME TO GO OUT AND PLAY GOLF.NEW RESEARCH DONE RIGHT HERE INBOSTON MAY PROMPT YOU TO PUTTHAT SODA CAN DOWN.JULIE, WCVB NEWSCENTER 5.BEN: WOW.ERICA: I KNOW.WE'RE PULLING FOR HIM.EVERY UPDATE.THEY DO A GREAT JOB UPDATING ONFACEBOOK P. WHAT AN AMAG FAMILY.BEN: YOU HAVE CHILDREN THAT AGE.>> YEAH.

Family's mission after son's heart transplant: Helping others

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Updated: 11:48 AM EDT Apr 21, 2017

After several trying weeks in the hospital, a little boy in Massachusetts, who stole our hearts, made an incredible stride in his recovery.